Dark Water

Dimension: Dark Water

Patterns along the furniture were a traditional criss cross pattern, but Anthea Reinhardt didn’t fit the style. The same with the carpets and the rugs, simply leftovers from a forgotten time, brought and kept together for convenience. Nothing was considered new in Horn River. Even her wedding dress was a yellow piece passed down through the generations of the town.

Anthea Reinhardt stroked her hands down the center of her dress and tried to press out any wrinkles; dissatisfied with the two-dimensionality. She brought her hands to the bottom edge, being careful of the sequins, and puffed it up once more.

This routine was performed more than a dozen times in front of her friend, Rene Stiller. When Rene decided enough was enough, she seized her friend's hands before it ran down the dress again."Anthea, knock it off. It's not flat or puffy, leave it alone."

Anthea stopped the routine and gazed at the mirror. The dress didn’t feel like hers. She shouldn’t be a bride. Her wild brunette locks appeared as if they needed to escape from her and this decision.

"Your wedding dress is beautiful, you’re a hot girl, don't worry about that," Rene laughed as she messed with her purse. "Now quit fidgeting, you look like a squirrel that lost its nuts."

"That's easy for you to say," Anthea retorted. "You're not the one getting married." She viewed her dress with temptation as her hands touched it again. Before she knew it, she was back to her old routine.

Rene examined the room for something to help her situation. She grinned as she saw her answer lying on a small nightstand near the bed. It was the bouquet of buttercup roses Mrs. Stevens had lent for the wedding. She borrowed the bouquet and placed it in Anthea's hands to stop the routine completely.

Anthea picked up her veil beside her, being careful not to mess up her bun as she placed it on her head. She brought the front of the veil up so her face showed through and placed both hands back on the flowers.

"Now you resemble a bride," Rene remarked as she noticed how beautiful her friend became in front of her eyes. "In just a few hours, Anthea, you're going to be Mrs. Micah Campbell."

"Yeah, I barely believe it myself," Anthea said back as she stared into the full mirror. "I'm getting married. Lucky, lucky me."

"A little more enthusiasm wouldn't hurt," Rene complained. "You don't have to keep playing nice either."

"Nice?" Anthea turned to behold her friend with a questioning squint. She set the bouquet down next to her nightstand. What did she mean by nice?

"Anthea, I know you," Rene said as she adjusted the bouquet. "You’ve met him. You’ve known each other a year. He’ll treat you right, and best of all? You are getting to visit a new town!” Rene touched the yellowing dress. “You're unsure about getting married," she said staring Anthea right in the face. "It's a big step in life. Everything's going to change for you. Instead of playing with your dress, try talking to me for real."

Anthea didn't say anything at first, but Rene had been right. She had been spending her time ignoring the subject. "I should be marrying for love, not for this. I’m not a princess whose union brings two kingdoms together."

"About time you admit it," Rene groaned. "I've been trying to get you to admit that all day. You’re not being selfish, Anthea. I would bolt if I were in your position, but he chose you. He got to know you, and you spent a year getting to know him. So, don’t think about it as a union bringing two rivaling towns together." Rene dug around in her purse. “Think of it as a happily ever after. You like him, he likes you, and you probably would have gotten married one day anyway. Here, I've got something that will help you out." She pulled out a bottle.

"No," Anthea said firmly. "I can’t take anything before the wedding."

"Oh, Anthea, this is calming liquid. It will help you relax before the ceremony starts." Rene gave her the bottle and left the room for a moment to fetch her friend some water.

Anthea stared at the bottle in her hand. Her nerves were rattled and she did need to settle them down. She only took a swig so it shouldn't make her too drowsy. As Rene came back in, Anthea handed the bottle back. "I don't want to fall asleep during my own wedding."

Rene took the bottle back. "Here you go, for the dryness." Rene handed her a glass of water while she took the other pill. "Trust me. You aren't going to fall asleep at your own wedding." She grabbed her purse again and dropped the medicine bottle back inside. "Let's get going before the town scolds us for not showing up yet."

Anthea didn't argue as she held the glass of water. There was no hurry to reach the church since it was only a block away. "Let me water the car a little before we go, my left rear tomatoes aren't doing well."

"My flowers are doing great," Rene bragged as she headed toward the door. "You are making me fall off subject. Being delayed to water tomatoes is not a good excuse for your wedding day."

Anthea rolled her eyes and held the water as she grabbed her bouquet and walked out after her friend. When she reached the front door, Anthea strolled over to her car and poured the glass of water onto her plants. She put the glass down and lifted her dress up off the ground. She turned toward Rene who had walked to the sidewalk. "Will you hold my train?"

Rene strolled over and picked up Anthea's train and walked behind her. "We need music. Want me to sing?" She hummed an embarrassing old tune as they walked down the street. When people stopped to stare Rene laughed and waved causing Anthea to turn red.

"Stop singing it’s embarrassing," Anthea squealed softly as she watched her friends and neighbors staring at her. "We're the center of attention because of you."

"I disagree," Rene chuckled. "They're watching the bride in her funny gown and veil walk down the street." She stared at the side of Anthea's dress. "That muddy stain on your side doesn't help either. I told you not to water the tomatoes."

Anthea ignored the stain. She wanted the day to be over with as she glanced at everyone who came out to stare at her. She focused on the church in front of her as she moved at a rapid pace. If it were up to her, she would have had a simple ceremony with a few guests. A wedding was an event that was rarely experienced though, especially one with an outsider.

Once they entered the church, Rene and Anthea headed toward the bridal room. It had a window, a couple of chairs, and one bed for emergencies. Anthea would have to wait in there until the ceremony started.

The odor in the room was almost gagging from all the fumes on the walls. It was obvious it had been painted for the occasion with a heavy dark pink paint only recently. The light streamers crossing to and fro along the walls only made the point more known as it clung to the wet corners.

"Surprise!" A little three year old opened the door and ran over to Anthea. "Happy wedding day, Aunt Anthea." He squeezed her around the legs so tight that she could not move. Rene laughed at her friend's fortune while Lena, the boy's mother, came in.

"Jeremiah, Anthea doesn't need you clinging onto her as she walks down the aisle," Lena teased as she retrieved her little boy. She picked up Anthea’s veil and handed it to her. "Your ceremony is breath taking, and it's more elaborate than mine ever could have been. Elder Midge Harrison even donated streamers. Good luck and congratulations." Jeremiah held on tight to her shoulder as they left out the door.

"I better go head outside too. I've heard rumors the punch is extra fruity. Might get away with a spike or two." Rene gave her friend a final hug. "You are gorgeous, even with the muddy stain, so good luck." She squeezed her friend tightly once more before she left the room.

Anthea guiltily eyed the bed. She was at the church; if she were asleep someone would come wake her up. She set her bouquet down and rested upon the bed. Micah would be late anyway. Oh, she had to get over her fear. Micah was good, and she had been the one who volunteered.

***

Familiar music brought Anthea back to reality as she sat up in the bed. The church music had started to play? Knowing she must be the one who was late, she quickly grabbed both her bouquet and veil. “I bet Rene told them to do that instead of coming to get me. Oh, what a pain she is sometimes.” She opened the door and scanned around trying to find the right way to the back of the church; the ceremony would be held outside, but the inside of the church was a maze. Anthea ran around another hallway as she tried to find her way through the church enigma.

Had she really overslept? It felt as if it could have been no longer than fifteen minutes. “Oh, that swig. Why did I listen to Rene?” Her friend wasn't even decent enough to go back and wake her up.

Anthea sighed in relief as she finally found the right door. She quickly put on her veil and hoped she resembled a beautiful bride. Anthea peered at the mud stain and scratched at the eye sore. It was dry so most of it came off with a good last shake of her dress.

Anthea took a deep breath and grabbed the door handles. They screeched as they opened together and wailed until pushed to the wall.

Whether it was the excitement of marriage or the effects of the bottle, Anthea felt dizzy as she stared down the aisle. Up ahead in the altar the priest stood with his back to everyone, but Micah was not waiting beside it. That's why they didn't come get me? She was about to go back when she wondered why the ceremonious music had been playing. Other people were sitting in the pews ahead.

Did Rene slip her something stronger than she had presumed? Anthea considered it as she felt an eerie feeling rise up from within her. The beautiful music had felt more like a funeral dirge. “This doesn't make sense.” Ahead of her was the rotting traditional alter, its current oozish paint trying to hide its true condition. Micah was nowhere to be seen. Briefly, she would forget formality as she headed up the aisle.

Anthea stopped at the first pew and saw Rene who had her head rolled back with her eyes faced towards her. Rene's mouth lay partly open as she remained still. Anthea moved in front of her bitterly. "It's my wedding day, straighten up, this isn't funny."

It was an important day and her friend had the nerve to play dead. "Rene!" Anthea hit her friend on the shoulder with the intent of getting her message across.

It did not change as Rene’s lifeless body fell to the floor. Anthea stared at her friend a few seconds longer as she proceeded to look at the next person who had the same expression. Involuntarily, she stepped backward, realizing that pew bench by pew bench everyone stared at her the same way.